In 2024, my Department approved 2,061 applications for career breaks and special leave, both paid and unpaid. This includes Force Majeure, attendance at a court case as a witness or as a member of a jury. Within this figure, five applications were specifically related to civil servants and/or their spouses undertaking temporary roles within EU institutions. Due to the limited number of cases, and to maintain confidentiality and prevent potential identification of individuals, I have refrained from providing a breakdown of figures for each subcategory.
16 applications for special leave were not approved during this period. None of these declined applications pertained to civil servants and/or their spouses seeking temporary positions within EU institutions.